Absolute Beginner.

[aldevis]

I was paying £16/half an hour lesson, I am now paying £25/hr with a new teacher if that helps as a guide?

And I cost well more than that (before cafediscount). As a further guide.
But some teachers keep you going at home for a good while.

My teacher only gave two hours lessons, keeping me busy for weeks.

Ultimately, you are the learner and the teacher is just a tool to help you do that.

 

[trimmy]

Ultimately, you are the learner and the teacher is just a tool to help you do that.

Reassuring to know as many times I've been called the tool !

 

[Jeanette]

Alice, from a beginner who has been at it for about 4 years

Well.... I've cut my lessons down to once a fortnight which is far from ideal and only done because of absolute necessity on my part.

I did this too after a while and it wasn't detrimental you really need time in between lessons to digest and practise what you have been taught, it also gives you time for the rest of life and to have a play with things outside your lessons.

I feel really overawed and I mess up scales which I can manage perfectly well and then end up spending half of my precious lesson trying to get them perfect and tensing up in the process

It took me two years to feel comfortable playing with my tutor, if anyone puts me on the spot to play something I mess up, even now as @aldevis will testify!

He asked me if I wanted to go through the grades, officially and at first I thought "yes, why not?" but now i'm wondering if that is best for me or not? Will that essentially kill the lessons and make them plod along like a chore?

I have mixed feelings re grades, they are certainly not necessary but many do them and I think there must be a sense of achievement and a measure of sorts of where you are but does that matter to you, do you need that?

I think I would be too nervous to do a graded an exam but sometimes I like the idea and I admire those that do.

Certainly some bands or orchestras insist on a certain grade but many don't. As one teacher said to me. "Passing an exam means you could play that particular piece of music because you practised and practised but not necessarily paly anything else" I don't entirely agree with the statement but understand what was being said. It's a personal decision

I am also in real need of stimuli and inspiration which would come from playing with others.

Have you looked around locally or asked your teacher about groups you can play with. Post on the noticeboard here there may be others local in the same boat.

I am supposed to be organising a get together to play with some members here, 3 of us have met a couple of times and it is good fun (Guys I will sort this, promise).

It's a journey not a race, yes I understand your sentiments about getting old etc but enjoy where you are and everything will fall I to place

Jx

 

[Alice]

Hello Alice
You seem to be getting into a bit of a pickle!

I was paying £16/half an hour lesson, I am now paying £25/hr with a new teacher if that helps as a guide?

I have joined in with his sax jazz group (£7 for two hours) which covers various genres and I am well out of my depth, but it is fun. I nearly did not go back after the first session, but I am sticking at it. It's so good being part of a group listening and following along where I cannot.

If you were in Essex I would say come along to a session, all are made welcome. Check out his webpage www.johnseeleyjazz.com I strongly recommend him to anyone on this forum.

Colin that really does open my eyes!!! Holy Mary!
I would really enjoy that sax jazz group! thank you for that. I haven't checked to see if something similar exists which is nearer to me, I will now.

 

[BigMartin]

I think I would be too nervous to do a graded an exam

I think that's probably one of the best reasons for doing them. Managing nerves is very important.

"Passing an exam means you could play that particular piece of music because you practised and practised but not necessarily paly anything else"

Yes but that means you've learned something to a depth that you might not otherwise have reached. And when you can play the thing in your sleep, you don't need to be nervous. It doesn't prove that you can do anything else but I think the value (if there is one for you) lies in the process, rather than the piece of paper at the end.

Haviing said that, I can't be bothered with exams now. I went through all that as a clarinet-playing kid.

 

[Alice]

And I cost well more than that (before cafediscount). As a further guide.
But some teachers keep you going at home for a good while.

My teacher only gave two hours lessons, keeping me busy for weeks.

Ultimately, you are the learner and the teacher is just a tool to help you do that.

I'm sure you are worth every penny and I believe that my tutor is too, with regard his talents and achievements. Do you think I could ask him for more homework or might that be seen as "cheeky"?

 

[Jeanette]

I think that's probably one of the best reasons for doing them. Managing nerves is very important.
Yes but that means you've learned something to a depth that you might not otherwise have reached. And when you can play the thing in your sleep, you don't need to be nervous. It doesn't prove that you can do anything else but I think the value (if there is one for you) lies in the process, rather than the piece of paper at the end.

Haviing said that, I can't be bothered with exams now. I went through all that as a clarinet-playing kid.

I am toying with the idea

But actually think I might do a theory exam first, if I do!

Jx

 

[kevgermany]

Do you think I could ask him for more homework or might that be seen as "cheeky"?

Do it. Not at all cheeky. Also if you'working from a method book, play ahead.

 

[Alice]

Thank you @Jeanette for your reply, I value your opinion and i'm glad i'm not alone with the whole "nerves" issue.
Yes I have asked my teacher to help put me in touch with some of the other students but nothing has happened yet.
I didn't know there was a notice board here, thank you I will do that Any kind of get together here would be great. I would have liked to come to Wales, but unfortunately I can't due to my responsibilities at home.

 

[Alice]

I think that's probably one of the best reasons for doing them. Managing nerves is very important.
Yes but that means you've learned something to a depth that you might not otherwise have reached. And when you can play the thing in your sleep, you don't need to be nervous. It doesn't prove that you can do anything else but I think the value (if there is one for you) lies in the process, rather than the piece of paper at the end.

Haviing said that, I can't be bothered with exams now. I went through all that as a clarinet-playing kid.

I agree that these things would indeed be very beneficial to me.

 

[Alice]

If you were in Essex I would say come along to a session, all are made welcome. Check out his webpage www.johnseeleyjazz.com I strongly recommend him to anyone on this forum.

That link didn't work, Colin.

 

[nickh]

Once a fortnight is ideal I would say.

I take lessons about once a fortnight as I often don't have the time to do all my homework in a week. sometimes I might go 3 weeks. I like to go away from a lesson inspired and with a list things to work on for the next one. Generally I book a lesson for when I've finished my homework. So I would say be assertive. Tell your teacher what you want, he's there to help you.

I once had a teacher (on a different instrument) who saw a lesson as a way of showing off his skills to me. He gave me no encouragement and charged me a fortune. He didn't last long!

I think grades are a very personal thing. My kids like them as it's a great way to measure progress and gives them something aspire too. So I see the appeal but I find I don't feel the need to take them. I don't wish to associate music in any way with exams. But I'm a little contrary!

I thought no playing with others is essential and very beneficial so if you can find a group locally go for it! You will improve for sure. I've not achives this yet on the saxophone though!

 

[Colincr]

That link didn't work, Colin.

Sorry try co.uk my mistake

 

[Colin the Bear]

As far as teachers go, you're paying, so start calling the shots. Tell your teacher what you want, where you want to be and that you're capable of doing more than is being offered.

After the basics there isn't a set way to learn. Some things will come easy and some things need working at. A good educator will respond to your wants and balance these with your needs while problem solving for you along the way.

It's only music. Pick up your horn and blow. Practice a little, play a little, study a little.

We don't play to be good. We play to play.

I enjoy that feeling of nervousness. It's the only time I feel really alive. You find out if you know a piece when you perform it. There's a whole other level of consciousness needed. The feeling of well being is reward for the concentration and focus and effort that goes in.

Find out where the live music you want to play is being played. Talk to the performers and the audience. They'll point you to meets and folks who like what you like and are at various stages of learning.

 

[aldevis]

We don't play to be good. We play to play.

Another one for the Cafesaxophone wall

 

[Alice]

Thank you Colin, that's great advice.

 

[trimmy]

We don't play to be good. We play to play.

Another one for the Cafesaxophone wall

That line stood out to me too

 

[Megajoy]

Hi Alice,
I can really relate to what you are saying here, I remember when I had just started playing I started off with lessons every week and realised I did not have enough time to do homework, I then decided on fortnightly lessons. After a while I felt this was slowing me down, I then decided to join a concert band. Although I enjoyed it I felt I couldn't catch up and ended up going back to weekly lessons, I still had no time for homework and went back to fortnightly lessons. I did this for a while before doing a jazz course at citylit for a year which I really loved and enjoyed. After this I began self teaching with music books and had fun doing my own thing but felt I was not advancing as I stayed within my comfort zone and avoided doing scales. I later abandoned this method and decided I wanted to do grades, got myself another teacher and this put me under so much pressure, I then decided I was going to learn to play by ear and put all the books down. Since learning to play by ear I have had so much fun.

Now my dilemma is I have now returned to the concert band and since returning I have gained a lot of confidence, but I have found out when I do get lost on the music sheet (tends to happen when there are too many quavers or semi quavers) if it is a song I am familiar with I find I unconsciously begin to play by ear. Although I am having fun doing what I do now, I still question whether I should do grades, keep playing alongside songs I like, stick with the concert band or get myself a teacher? I sometimes think I am going round in circles.

I must say I have been to John Seeley's workshops and have had a fantastic time, I have also had occaissional lessons with him and he is a very good teacher and a very lovely person but distance and work life do not permit me to have lessons with him on a regular basis.

 

[Gareth WG]

I did my first six months with a classical teacher, completed and past my grade 2 after this time. My tutor gave me a great foundation, however, my heart was to play jazz.

I now have no lessons (although i am going to start again with specific jazz theory) but attend a weekly jazz music for beginners. We look over a song in detail with the mindset of performing this live at our monthly jazz jams. So, we get to play the head together and then improvisation with a live jazz band.

So, i suppose it depends what your ultimate goals are. I always wanted to test my beginner skills in a live setting, even though this is very daunting it is very rewarding. Even though i did learn a lot from a strict classical player, ultimately i found it boring. Ultimately i needed to enjoy what i was doing.

 

[Alice]

I did my first six months with a classical teacher, completed and past my grade 2 after this time. My tutor gave me a great foundation, however, my heart was to play jazz.

I now have no lessons (although i am going to start again with specific jazz theory) but attend a weekly jazz music for beginners. We look over a song in detail with the mindset of performing this live at our monthly jazz jams. So, we get to play the head together and then improvisation with a live jazz band.

So, i suppose it depends what your ultimate goals are. I always wanted to test my beginner skills in a live setting, even though this is very daunting it is very rewarding. Even though i did learn a lot from a strict classical player, ultimately i found it boring. Ultimately i needed to enjoy what i was doing.

My heart is also in Jazz and that sounds exactly like what I want to do!
I've just found out that there is one Jazz orchestra in my area which is comprised of about 40 people at various levels and ages, so i'm going to get in touch whilst still attending a lesson every fortnight. Thanks so much for your input here, Gareth. Jazz theory is also something I want to learn.